Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TV. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Mary Tyler Moore, We Will Miss You

Mary Tyler Moore
(1936 - 2017)

Mary Tyler Moore

Here are links to blog posts I wrote on how she (or more truthfully, her characters) influenced me in fashion and in home decor:

Fashion in Film: Want To Dress Like Laura Petrie?

Fashion in Film: Laura Petrie - The Dresses!

SHELTER Sets: "You're Gonna Make It After All..."


Not only that, the woman known to "turn the world on with her smile", accomplished an amazing F-U to Hollywood's love of typecasting when she starred as the ultimate cold and with-holding mother, Beth Jarrett, in one of my favorite films, 1980s Ordinary People.

She was amazing and will be missed. My condolences go out to her family and loved ones.

Images: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Friday, September 09, 2016

Fashion in Film: Laurel Healy Is BrainDead (2016)

Creators: Michelle and Robert King
Actors: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Tony Shalhoub, Aaron Tveit, Danny Pino,
Music: David Buckley
Costume Design: Daniel Lawson, David Brooks

Courtesy of CBS

Laurel Healy is the main character of CBS's BrainDead, a new show from the creators of The Good Wife. Played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (PBS' Mercy Street, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) Laurel is currently my work wardrobe inspiration. Her clothes are sharp, professional, and comfortable, usually sleek skirts with eye catching tops and either a patterned blazer or an attractive all-purpose coat. Her color palette consists of shades of black, white, blue (from navy to cornflower) and neutral earth tones. It may be a simple palette but she shakes it up with graphic patterns, textured fabric, and interesting embellishments.

I tried to get this out ASAP so that you could check BrainDead out Sunday at 10 before the season ends but you can still stream it at CBS.com.

 Work separates:


Love this wine-colored sweater tunic worn in episode 3, especially the nubby texture and the slightly too-long sleeves.

https://wornontv.net/59008/

Yes, please! I want episode 5's wine colored soft leather jacket with patterned silky shirt and stretch woven green pencil skirt. I believe she even wore this one with knee high boots. Love that huge gold belt buckle.

https://wornontv.net/58831/

This one, also from episode 5, I think of as a "poor boy" sweater, because it looks as if it was made up of remnants of various other sweaters.



This chunky graphic sweater in episode 9 is so sweet with the rolled collar and the wide black cuffs.

http://www.gettyimages.fr/photos/laurel-healy?phrase=laurel%20healy&sort=best&excludenudity=true#license

Both of these are from episode 12, which hasn't aired yet! It is more of that color blocking of sweater knits and I want it for my own!

Jackets:
https://wornontv.net/58796/
Image courtesy of Nordstrom

Love this Akris Punto jacket worn in episode 4. I can totally understand why this designer has shown up both on this show and The Good Wife, just look at all this!


Unfortunately, I could find no information on this jacket from episode 10 anywhere. But just look at that texture and pattern!

https://wornontv.net/59070/

More texture courtesy of Oscar de la Renta in episode 7 and this one is worn with a unique white blouse that shows that the blouse underneath doesn't have to be plain and let the patterned jacket shine; both pieces can be "statements."

Coats:
Laurel owns at least five overcoats, primarily trenches that are decidedly distinctive from each other; a typical khaki, a subtle grey plaid, a plain pale pink, a cornflower blue one, and the most noticeable one from the first episode, a graphic leopard print with bias bound seams visible on the coat's exterior.

Photo: Macall Polay/CBS



After work:

https://wornontv.net/58978/

A earth tone and black dress combination; however, the shade of the background fabric on this Alexander McQueen dress in episode 6 gives the impression of nudity from a distance. Pretty sly with the subliminal messaging on a date with your crush, Laurel!

(Photo: Michael Parmelee/CBS)

This dress worn in the first episode is also in shades of earth and black but it's definitely not boring or staid, is it? I love the floral applique with the black border and how the shape of the flowers dictate the shape of the sleeves.



Oh, and how about her sexy midnight blue velvet dress from the Tax Ball, a low cut front and back!

Here's an article on the show's style in The Observer from Emma Frazier of the blog, TV Ate My Wardrobe, another blog you should read.

This post would not be possible without the work of the great website WornOnTV. Clicking on most of the clothing photos should take you to the corresponding page on WOT that gives specific info on that item. They don't have everything, but I've also tried to track down details on the outfits pictured above. You must check out their site!

Credit: All images courtesy of CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images if not specifically noted above.

Saturday, March 05, 2016

Let's Get Caught Up...

Sorry, I haven't been posting projects lately, I've definitely been thinking about them, I just haven't gotten off my butt and gone into my sewing room. That is, until three days ago.

I have been reading sewing blogs though, and that just might be the problem. I have been reading so many blogs and marveling at other sewist projects, yet dragging my feet on my own. I got sick a few weeks ago and ended up with 160 unread posts and am only now down to only 5. So I am going through my bloglovin' queue and shedding some blogs, mostly that don't reflect my style OR don't inspire me with their imagination or use of different techniques. For example, Shams of Communing With Fabric and I don't have style in common besides Vogue 8712, but I love what she creates for herself and have to see what she gets up to, Lara of Thornberry's use of colorful fabric and interesting shapes amazes me, and Barbara from Sewing on the Edge's flypaper thoughts have me laughing out loud. So, I have a feeling I will still have a fairly large list of blogs left, but just the ones I really enjoy. Marie Kondo, take note.

So, that is where my Sew-Jo went.

  • I just finished McCall's 6886 in a striped ponte and can't wait to show you.
  • I am this close to finishing up that vintage Simplicity 5289 that resembles Peggy Olson's dress from the last season of Mad Men. I just have hems, neckline, and decorative top-stitching to do.
  • I cut out a graphic Black & White mod-look skirt from Simplicity 1163, this will be my next project.
  • Following that, I will be attempting a pair of pants, but what type, I'm still not sure of. I have many pattern/fabric bundles already, but I just have to make up my mind. Slim-fitting knit, stretch woven jeans, legging-like with seam detail, or drapey woven with volume at the hips and tapered legs...
  • I've been reading a lot of books on my Nook: Dirty Blonde by Lisa Scottoline, Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, and Blame by Michelle Huneven.
  • I've been watching a huge amount of comedies on Hulu: Korean series Marry Me or Not? and Britcoms No Heroics (no longer available on the site), and Lost in Austen.
  • Been watching some regular TV too: iZombie (CW), Mom (CBS), Teachers(TV Land) and last but not least,is anyone watching You, Me, and the Apocalypse? I am loving this show and developing a deeper crush on Brit Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans, Spy) in his dual roles of a mild-mannered banker and his psychotic cyberterrorist/kidnapper twin. You should definitely check it out, it's available on NBC and Hulu. It also stars Jenna Fischer, Rob Lowe, and Megan Mullally. It is a joint USA/Britain project ( I vote for more of these!) and I hope it gets another season/series.
  •  Also been watching a lot of movies on Hulu (Hmmm, I think I'm seeing the real time-zapper culprit now.) I've seen: In a World..., Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, and Mortecai(WHY?!?, this thing stunk so bad, everyone but Paul Bettany should be ashamed. His long suffering, over-sexed thug/hard man was hilarious and such a departure that it took me longest time to even recognize him.)

Well, I think that's about all. I will be posting about my finished dress when I get photos and you should expect more posts in the near future. I just reached 300 followers! a week ago, so thank you so much for reading my little blog!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Spending My Time Wisely When Sick

Over the last few weeks I've been fuzzy-headed, coughing, and congested with a long bout of sinusitis. Not being able to concentrate most of that time, I spent my non-working hours watching a lot of TV and reading a few books. Here are the ones I enjoyed, you should check them out.

TV

Difficult People a Hulu Original Series

Lark Rise to Candleford

Playing House (USA)

Odd Mom Out (BravoTV)

Agatha Christie's Marple - loving this one, 23 episodes!

Music

The Civil Wars = which I listen to in large doses before the dark imagery and atmosphere gets to me and I must seek out something fun and happy.




To experience the dark side of southern love, you can also check out their Civil Wars, Barton Hollow, and The Civil Wars: Unplugged on VH1. It's amazing to believe this duo met, gained fame, and crashed in less than four years, 2009-2012.

Books

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (also a motion picture with Charlize Theron)

In The Woods by Tana French (part of the Dublin Murder Squad series)

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (also a BBC series)

* Streamed through Hulu

Monday, September 07, 2015

Where Joan Holloway-Harris Laid Her Head

Originally written 08/13/2010 on my other blog, Shelterhome.

With season 6 updates!

The last ever season of Mad Men has aired. While looking at all the retrospective articles, episode recaps, and fashion commentary, I also saw more pictures of the show's sets. With Joan Holloway-Harris' departure from McCann Erickson, a lot more of her scenes were staged in her little pink apartment. Even though most of the articles mentioned above spoke about how the characters had or had not changed in the last 10 years, one thing that did not change was her home. When I first put together this post, Joan was still a newlywed. Now, despite all her life changes in the past ten years and the fact that now her little boy and mother share the space, it miraculously looks the same. Check out some new pics and updated commentary (in blue) below.



Well, come on in! Welcome to the apartment home of Greg and Joan Harris (nee Holloway), wonderfully sourced and styled by the talented set decorator Amy Wells, production designer Dan Bishop* and their design teams at Mad Men.


It is definitely girly, all done up in coral pink and seafoam green. Or in other words, shades of red and green. You do remember that the former Joan Holloway got married during the Christmas season, right?


Add in some cream, turquoise, gold accents, robin's egg blue in the kitchen, lavender or lilac in the bedroom, and you have Joan's complete interior color scheme for her amazing pink apartment.




So, let's start with that sumptuous floor pillow Joanie is lounging on above. This would be easy to replicate with some damask fabric and the same kind of trim which can still be found at any fabric store, some 30 decades later. How about a mix and match of the two below from Wrights trims?




 






In this view, we can see the green graphic patterned drapes alongside shorter cream or eggshell colored sheers; a gilded oval mirror, candle sconces, and her cream painted dining set with cane back chairs. Notice that her walls are in a deep coral (or salmon) and that the trim is that color that landlords still stick you with today, Antique White/Apartment Beige (or as it's called in the U.K, Magnolia). At least she has the wall-to-wall seafoam green carpet to augment her color scheme.


  • The painted piece near the dining table stands in for a bar and seems to have a faux shagreen finish on the sides and gold detailing. Anyone know what this piece is called or what the furniture style is?
  • Gilded gold round coffee table with inset glass resting on three chunky legs.


General Electric refrigerator for S. 3 and newer one for S.4

  • Season 3 had the most adorable refrigerator ever! It took quite a while to source this one! Luckily, it was distinctive because of the vertical handle, separate freezer compartment on the bottom, slightly raised middle section on top and the deep channeled detailing down the center. It looks like it could be either a General Electric Deluxe PB6-40 or just a B6-40. Now whether or not they kept the same designs for years, may mean that this model is as old as the 1940-50s. Perhaps MM noticed that too because Season 4 shows a different, less-cute refrigerator.

    Season 6
  • Season 6 shows an even newer refrigerator, in bright blue! What was Joan doing to those things? That seems to be a lot of wear and tear in just ten years.

  • Remember those nubby sofas? What was that fabric and why was it so hard to clean?
  • Here we see a coral armchair in a different style than the cream damask club chair seen in the earlier picture.
  • I love that pale wood TV cabinet on hairpin wire legs and the lovely turquoise bowl/ashtray on top.
  • Also do you notice the painted street scene? A very similar one is seen in her new office this season, I wonder if she brought it from home or bought herself a new one?

Season 6

  • In season 6, Joan still has the same sofa. It is over ten years old and still covered in the same fabric. I find it hard to believe that with the huge increase in her salary this was never replaced. Every other character on the show has changed homes, some numerous times. However, Joan not only did not move but she had never changed anything in her apartment except a kitchen appliance or two? Puh-lease.
  • Those turquoise drapes do not seem to have faded and the carpet has changed from a pale seafoam blue to cream, despite there being a child under ten living there.


    Season 6

    • Gilded faux bamboo bar cart with turquoise and gold tipped glasses. Of course, this made it to season 6!
    • An unique folding buffet tray for appetizers. I used to have a wooden sewing basket that was constructed just like this. Here's one by Karoff that I found online at A La Modern. I'm tempted to believe it's the same one that Mad Men bought. Others can still be found on eBay and Etsy.
    Karoff buffet tray




    • A better look at the abstract patterned barkcloth curtains at the back of the room next to the plant.
    • A closer view of those nubby, uncomfortable sofas? We had two otherwise lovely Danish armchairs recovered in that fabric (almost the same color too) when I was a teen. They originally were in tufted black leather...le sigh.
    • Notice Joan's gold-tipped tea service and canape server. You can tell that she studied entertaining from her copy of Emily Post.
    • I wish we could see those hanging light fixtures better though.
    Red pearl Crucianelli accordion.
    • I found many similar looking Italian-made Scandalli models before I could find a picture of a Crucianelli model like Joan's. Isn't it truly gorgeous?

    Update: Picture of Joanie's bedroom, just ignore the exhausted diva in her jammies.



    Lookee! Here's Joanie's color scheme from a 1952 print ad for DUCO paints from DuPont.





    Images: Courtesy of Tom and Lorenzo (Thank you SO much guys!), A La Modern, AMC, Retro Renovation

    *Links to two online versions of Etiquette: in Society, in Business, in Politics and at Home, 1922.

    ** He's a VCU alum too!

    Thursday, August 27, 2015

    Worth Checking Out: Dates



    I don't know why the CW decided to air "Dates," a series that originally aired in Britain two years ago, but I'm glad they did. This is a brilliant and entertaining show that I think could only survive in the US on cable. It just has that feel.

    The show was created by Bryan Elsley and aired earlier this summer but is still available to watch HERE on CW's website in full. The nine episodes depict men and women meeting for the first time as arranged by an online dating service. The show utilizes great British, Scottish, and Irish actors such as Gemma Chan (Humans), Andrew Scott (Sherlock's Moriarty, Spectre), Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones, Crimson Field), Greg McHugh (Fresh Meat), and Neil Maskell (Humans) among others.

    You should really check this out:



    Behind the scenes of Episode 1: David & Mia

    Monday, November 03, 2014

    Chasing Summer, Sensible Shoes, And Cuddly Warm Plaids...


    • Marry Me starring Casey Wilson from Happy Endings (RIP) whose husband created both shows and the adorable Ken Marino (Crew Chief Ron from Party Down*!).

      Sidenote: A Thakoon Addition dress worn by Casey Wilson in the second episode of Marry Me was a perfect blend of this Grainline Scout and my new Simplicity 5191 dress. I actually gasped when she put her hand in the hidden diagonal pocket.
    • Manhattan Love Story with Analeigh Tipton and Jake McDorman. I don't know or care if the reviews are great for this but I like it a lot. It's like a mini Nora Ephron comedy every week. Of course, the fact that Ms. Tipton's voice overs and new blond wispy hairdo could also double for Meg Ryan secures that impression. It's premise is cute, but I like how they don't always go for the obvious TV tropes. For example, the couple plans their first "night together" and instead both come down with food poisoning. I loved how the resulting scenes played out.


    • The time came and I stepped up to the plate. My feet were killing me in my 11 year-old Merrells so I needed a new pair of hard-working shoes for the retail job...enter Dansko XP Professionals. They make my feet look like Mickey Mouse' from above but they are doing the job and I got them for 45% off at 6pm.com. I also bought them in this great chocolate brown/rust color. I've since been searching the web looking for style inspiration for when I wear them with my "not uniform" clothes.
    • As for my summer sewing plan, I did very well, even though I am short that one shift dress and three pairs of pants. Luckily, two of the pants and the dress will still work so they remain in the queue joined by a plaid shirtdress (new!), a refashioned button-down shirt (for work), and my mad mod ponte dress. That last one is of course carried over from last year's fall plan.


    • After regretting not getting those plaid fabrics last year, I just scooped up this red, hunter, navy, and brown plaid brushed cotton on sale from the JoAnn Fabrics Platitiude collection, along with green stitching thread and matching red topstitching thread. This will become view D from McCall's 6885. I so want to start on this right now, but I have a button-down shirt for work next.


    *If you are not already on the Party Down fun train, click on the name to watch it free on Hulu.

    Saturday, July 12, 2014

    More TV...And A Confession

    Here's a (not-so) secret about me...

    I like pretty things and pretty people.

    Shocking right!?

    Well, I also love PBS and almost any British production the network airs. However, one show I didn't watch, let alone even give a chance, was Inspector Morse. The story of a lonely police inspector solving murder cases in England did not appeal to me and I am a die hard Hercule Poirot fan from age 12. Curious.

    A few years ago, I did start watching Inspector Lewis (it's successor) and loved it. I now suspect that was because of dishy Laurence Fox (whose father, Edward, I had a crush on in his younger days) I guess I am shallow like that. Despite that, when Endeavour, the back-story and early life of  the same Inspector Morse aired last year I still wasn't interested, no offense to actor Shaun Evans' good looks.



    Last Sunday, I sat down and watched my first Endeavour episode (the new series is airing on PBS channels nationally now, check at PBS.org to see airing times in your area) when it followed Last Tango in Halifax (check it out too if you can!) and found myself intrigued. I became truly hooked; however, in the second half when stunning Black nurse Monica (Shvorne Marks) from across the hall arrived on the scene. The possibility of an interacial relationship between the two of them in 1966 Oxford England ramped my interest up sky high. I'm now officially along for the ride. Strangely, actor Shaun Evans also became twice as attractive instantly! Hmmm, interesting...

    Another show worth checking out:

    Tyrant on FX - it is only on it's third episode but I like the story and the pacing. It is the story of the Americanized son of a dictatorial ruler of a small country who finds himself (and his very American family) pulled back into the family business and must get his hands dirty.

    Update: I know I mention a lot of the British TV productions I watch, but I keep forgetting to mention the helpful website The British TV Place, which keeps me up-to-date on what British (and Australian, Swedish, etc.) productions can be viewed online or on TV by American viewers. Please check them out, they do an awesome job tracking down all the possible viewing sources.

    Monday, June 09, 2014

    What I'm Liking Right Now...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_Meat_(TV_series)

    *Hulu's vast selection of British situation comedies and dramas that are FREE to view. I have been binge-watching one after another. Right now, I am watching Fresh Meat about uni (college) students in group housing. It has some great laughs, some great characters (Vod, Howard, Sabine) but its rampant promiscuity or lack of awareness when in comes to sex kicks off my "old woman on porch'" or the GET OFF MY LAWN! genes. The story has a "will they, won't they" couple who can not stop sleeping with other people. Arrgggh!

    Past series I've watched on free Hulu and now highly recommend: MirandaThe Wrong Mans, Moone Boy, The IT Crowd, manstrokewoman (Man/Woman), Scott & Bailey, and the animated genius of Stressed Eric.


    *Heather's hilarious recaps of "I Want To Marry Harry" (she watches - so I don't have to!) on GoFugYourself.com. Besides her observations on some of the most clueless American women, she also points out signs that the show is produced very cheaply despite having to portray the lifestyle of someone who is fourth in line for the crown of England! Her recaps are so good, I'm sometimes tempted to actually watch the show. Not.


    *Library books to read, if I can ever stop watching Hulu:

    The Truth About Style by Stacy London of  TLC's "What Not To Wear"
    Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington, the creative director of Vogue magazine.
    The Opposite of Fate by Amy Tan (a non-fiction book about her life before and after The Joy Luck Club).\
    Coconut shell purse detail

    *The most gorgeous coconut shell handbag for $40 seen for sale at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, of all places! The purse (# 453805) isn't on their website anymore but you can see a similar coconut bead belt they sell here. I have never seen a handbag in person and wanted it like this. Ever. In a magazine spread yes, but never in a store. Except for the cloth ones I've made, my purses were all gifts. I've bought briefcase-like bags and totes but never a pretty handbag for myself. This one had short enough straps that it could be worn on the shoulder and nestles up under the arm perfectly, it was the perfect size.  I just got a job but I have no justification for buying it and really nowhere to wear it. Man, it was beautiful! Update: Weeks later, it went on sale...I bought it.